On Saturday, the AFC South division champion Houston Texans (10-7) will host the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. It’s an intriguing match-up between two of the best young passers in the game, with CJ Stroud under center for Houston and Justin Herbert manning the LA offense. Both QBs are former Offensive Rookies of the Year – with Herbert winning the honor in 2020 and Stroud capturing it last season. No one doubts the skills of either young gunslinger, but Houston General Manager Nick Caserio made sure to specifically point out this week that his team won’t take anything for granted when facing the Chargers’ signal caller.
Texans GM Discusses Chargers QB Justin Herbert
Hot Start
Herbert, 26, was the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, following a stellar collegiate career at the University of Oregon. And although he only has a career record of 41-38 in 79 pro starts, he holds the record for the most completions (1,945) and passing yards (21,093) by a quarterback through his first five seasons in The League.
Standing 6’6″ and possessing a cannon arm, Herbert has all the physical gifts to lead his team to a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, he and his teammates hit a few potholes along the way. Under new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, LA’s rebuilding process has gone smoothly.
In his first season at the helm, Harbaugh guided the Chargers from a 5-12 record last year to 11-6 this season. A big factor in that growth was the team’s already established, elite arm taking the snaps.
This week, Texans General Manager said that he feels Justin Herbert is often overlooked by some media and fans. He praised the QB and even went so far as to suggest that Herbert could very well be the Most Valuable Player in the NFL
“He won’t win the MVP, but honestly, like you can make a cogent argument for why he should,” Caserio said. “I mean you’re talking about a guy who’s big, who’s strong, who’s more athletic than people think he is, that can make plays with his legs. And [he] can get the ball basically wherever he wants [it] to go.”
Houston May Have a Problem
Meanwhile, on the Huston side of the ledger, the team finished off the season with a Week 18 win over the lowly Tennessee Titans. Stroud only played a series in that game before bowing out to nurse a minor injury – but most of all, because the Texans had already clinched their postseason berth.
With star receivers like Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs put in for the season, the Texans are looking to re-load with some fresh weaponry. They signed former Pro Bowl receiver Diontae Johnson this week, as they try to provide Stroud with some more options on offense. For now, it appears that running back Joe Mixon, receiver Nico Collins, and tight end Dalton Schultz will be the Texans’ key offensive options on Saturday.
Main Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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